GBF Home // Target 20
Strengthen Capacity-Building, Technology Transfer, and Scientific and Technical Cooperation for Biodiversity

Target 20

Strengthen Capacity-Building, Technology Transfer, and Scientific and Technical Cooperation for Biodiversity

Strengthen capacity-building and development, access to and transfer of technology, and promote development of and access to innovation and technical and scientific cooperation, including through South-South, North-South and triangular cooperation, to meet the needs for effective implementation, particularly in developing countries, fostering joint technology development and joint scientific research programmes for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity and strengthening scientific research and monitoring capacities, commensurate with the ambition of the goals and targets of the framework.

Following are the guidance notes prepared by the Secretariat for Target 20

To achieve the goals and targets of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, Parties and other actors need to have commensurate expertise (including both technical and functional capacities), knowledge, tools, technologies and institutional capacity to effectively prioritize, plan, mobilize resources, and implement and monitor relevant strategies, programmes and activities at the national level. Capacity development, technical and scientific cooperation, technology transfer and innovation are crucial for enhancing the abilities, resilience and effectiveness of individuals, institutions and systems at various levels for improved biodiversity-related decision-making, action and outcomes.

The ultimate aim of this target is to ensure that Parties and other relevant actors have the necessary enabling conditions, capacity, know-how, technologies and other tools for implementation, commensurate with the ambition of the goals and targets of the Framework. To this end, the target identifies the following elements:

  • Capacity-building and development – Fostering an effective enabling environment and strengthening the ability of individuals and institutions to contribute successfully to realizing the mission of halting and reversing biodiversity loss is essential to putting nature on a path to recovery for the benefit of people and planet in an efficient and effective manner. This can be achieved through (1) improving the knowledge, skills, competencies and attitudes of individuals (including policymakers, planners, practitioners, and the public); (2) strengthening the organizational capacity of Parties, including through enhancing biodiversity governance, cross-sectoral coordination and collaboration, multi-stakeholder engagement, partnership development, network development and knowledge management; and (3) strengthening the enabling environment, including through enhancing policy and regulatory frameworks, mobilizing and leveraging resources, and enhancing political support.
  • Access to and transfer of technologies– Numerous technologies have the potential to assist in addressing the ongoing loss of biodiversity. However, access to and transfer of those technologies, as well as the skills to use and benefit from them, are limited in many developing countries. This needs to be improved as part of the implementation strategy to reach the 2050 Vision. Examples of relevant technologies include (1) technologies for spatial planning and managing biodiversity, including geospatial technology, remote sensing and geographic information systems; (2) technologies for monitoring biodiversity, such as DNA technologies, camera traps and acoustic recording devices, smartphone apps for use in citizen science, drones, invasive alien species trackers, satelite technologies;  (3) decision support technologies, such as early warning systems, digital technologies for the aggregatation of complex data and and data visualisation; and (4) indigenous and traditional technologies, innovations and practices ofindigenous peoples and local communities used with their free, prior and informed consent.
  • Development of and access to innovation – The development of new, transformative and innovative solutions for biodiversity needs to be fostered and access to those solutions improved. Parties and actors in the inovation ecosystem should direct research and development investments into addressing biodiversity challenges. Harnessing emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence, as well as the innovations and practices of idigenous peoples and local communities with their free, prior and informed consent may offer new opportunities to improve the conservation, sustainable use  and valorization of biodiversity and the fair and equitable sharing of benefiting aring from the utilization of genetic resources. 
  • Technical and scientific cooperation – Parties and partners have a wealth of scientific and technical expertise and traditional knowledge and technologies which if leveraged through cooperation, offer opportunities for the co-creation and/or exchange of knowledge, data, expertise, resources, technologies and technical know-how. Such cooperation can occur through South-South, North-South and triangular cooperation, joint technology development ventures, joint scientific research, and strengthening of scientific research and monitoring capacities through human resources development, institution building, joint training of personnel and exchange of experts.
  • Has the country undertaken a recent national capacity self-assessment with regard to biodiversity conservation and sustainable use?
  • What are the top priority capacity needs and gaps, at the individual, institutional and enabling environment levels, for national implementation?
  • What kind of technologies for different sectors does the country need to develop, access, transfer and diffuse to achieve its national targets and also contribute to the global goals and targets?
  • Does the country have a capacity-development plan for biodiversity or a specific component on capacity in the national biodiversity strategy and action plan?
  • What are the opportunities and constraints in improving technology transfer and technical and scientific cooperation? Who are the stakeholders that may be affected? How can they be involved and their needs addressed?
  • What additional resources (financial, human and technical) will be required to reach the national target? How can additional resources be raised? What are possible sources for these resources?

Indicators for this target have not yet been identified. 

Note from the Secretariat: This guidance material provides an overview of the target by briefly introducing key terms, highlighting some of the implications for national target setting, and providing key points and guiding questions for consideration as part of national target-setting exercises. It also identifies the adopted indicators to monitor progress and resources that could assist with national target setting and implementation. This material should be considered a work in progress, and it will be periodically updated with inputs from Parties and partner organizations in the light of experiences with its use. This information is meant to serve as a resource that Parties and others may wish to consider as they implement the Global Biodiversity Framework. It does not replace or qualify decision 15/4 or 15/5.